Head Coach Andy Reid anounced the list of players who will not be traveling with the team to Indianapolis for the Eagles' nationally televised game Thursday night. Coach Reid also said that the first-team offense and the first-team defense will play for the entire first half, and the second-team and third-team will finish the second half.

The list of players staying back in Philadelphia is: Trent Cole (AC sprain), Kevin Kolb (MCL sprain), Brian Westbrook, Omar Gaither (knee sprain), Shawn Andrews (back), Sheldon Brown (rib strain), Todd Herremans (stress reaction in foot), Darren Howard (groin strain), Jason Peters (quad strain), Bryan Smith (concussion), Stacy Andrews and Michael Vick.

With the absence of Peters, Stacy Andrews, and Shawn Andrews, the offensive line will be King Dunlap at left tackle, Nick Cole at left guard, Jamaal Jackson at center, Max Jean-Gilles at right tackle, and Winston Justice at right tackle.

Westbrook has been a full participant in practice this week and is being held out of the game for caution's sake, the same with Stacy Andrews. Kolb has been part-time participant in practice and is improving, as is Cole. The injuries to Peters, Howard, Gaither, and Brown are all considered minor, and they would each likely be ready to play if this were a regular season game.

Shawn Andrews visited a back specialist in California yesterday and received encouraging news. Andrews was told that there was no structural damage and that the back issue was muscle-related. Reid said the team will begin to ease Andrews back into the flow of things soon.

Todd Herremans is still expected to miss each of the preseason games and should be ready for the start of the season against the Carolina Panthers.

Vick is ineligible to play as a result of his NFL suspension, but he is expected to make his Eagles debut next Thursday at Lincoln Financial Field against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

*-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 2:22 p.m., August 18